New Garden Flying Field to receive $1.2 million federal grant

The New Garden Flying Field has received a $1.2 million federal grant, that will be used to improve its runway.

By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

The New Garden Flying Field in
Toughkenamon was one of three Chester County airports to receive a
total of $3.3 million in federal funding that will be used to pay for
development projects at the airports. The announcement was made on
July 16 by Sen. Andy Dinniman.

The funding comes through PennDOT's
aviation development program and the Federal Aviation
Administration's block grant program. The grants are part of an $18
million state and federal investment that will improve safety and
operations at 35 airports in Pennsylvania, and support more than
2,600 jobs statewide.

New Garden Flying Field will receive
$1.2 million, which will be dedicated to the second phase of
improvements to its runway, and will include the clearing of trees,
the addition of electrical banks, and the complete excavation of the
safety area – all being done to bring the runway up to current
safety standards. The work includes widening the runway to 60 feet
from its current width of 50 feet. The first phase of the runway
project included the design of the project, which was completed last
year.

“This grant allows us to make huge
safety improvement for our operations here at the airport,” said
Jon Martin, New Garden Flying Field manager. “The runway for an
airport is a primary asset, and we're bringing our current runway up
to standards.”

Martin said that work on the project
will begin once the federal funding is allocated. The project's third
phase, which he estimated will cost $3 million, will include paving
of the runway.

In addition to the grant for the New
Garden Flying Field, the Chester County/G.O. Carlson Airport received
$2 million to remove obstructions and complete its apron
construction, and the Brandywine Airport received $158,333 to study
the feasibility of acquiring a precision approach that helps increase
access and safety during poor weather conditions.

Public-use airports like New Garden are
eligible for the PennDOT aviation development program.

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